Garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger includes a crosspiece formed with a pair of clothespins and with a hook extending upward therefrom. Each of the clothespins includes a first jaw and a second jaw arranged oppositely, with each jaw having a distal end and a proximal end and having an inner griping surface formed at the distal end. Furthermore, the first jaw has a plurality of holes defined in the gripping surface thereof, while the second jaw has a plurality of blunt protuberances projecting from the gripping surface thereof in positions corresponding to the holes and entering the latter when the clothespin is in the second position, thereby to provide an increased friction of the jaws.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment hanger and, moreparticularly, to a garment hanger which is formed with at least oneclothespin adapted to securely hold an article of clothing withoutcausing any damages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various garment hangers are now available. One of them is formed withclothespins at ends to hold more articles of clothing or even a suit ofgarments on the same hanger.

Such clothespins are different one from one. Yet they always has a pairof spring-loaded jaws tightly held together in a manner as teeth areclenched.

FIG. 1A shows a front sectional view of a conventional clothespin 70. Ascan be seen, the clothespin 70 includes a U-shaped spring 71 used tohold a pair of jaws 72 and 73 tightly together. Generally, the oppositejaws 72 and 73 are provided with sharp, canine-like protuberances 74 soas to securely grip and hold up garment made of heavy material, such asjeans. The cruel grip, however, usually does damage to the garment 75and leaves permanent marks on it, as shown in FIG. 1B, and so theclothespin 70 is not suitable for garment made of light and softmaterial, such as silk.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved garment hanger to overcomethe shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment hangerwhich is formed with at least one clothespin adapted to securely hold anarticle of clothing without causing any damage.

To achieve the aforementioned objects, the present invention provides agarment hanger including a crosspiece formed with at least oneclothespin and with a hook extending upward therefrom. The clothespinincludes a first jaw and a second jaw arranged oppositely, with each jawhaving a distal end and a proximal end and having an inner gripingsurface formed at the distal end. The jaws are pivotally connected toeach other in a place between the distal end and the proximal end and ispivotal relative to each other between a first position in which theinner griping surfaces are brought apart and a second position in whichthe inner griping surfaces are brought closer. The jaws arespring-loaded so as to tend to pivot to the second position.Furthermore, the first jaw has a plurality of holes defined in thegripping surface thereof, while the second jaw has a plurality of bluntprotuberances projecting from the gripping surface thereof in positionscorresponding to the holes. The protuberances enter the holes when theclothespin is in the second position, thereby providing an increasedfriction for securely holding an article of clothing between the jaws.

As one aspect of the present invention, the blunt protuberances eachhave a substantially hemispherical terminal and the holes are shapedcorrespondingly to receive the protuberances in such shape, thussecurely holding the article of clothing without causing any damage.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of this invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front sectional view of a clothespin of prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a garment hanger in accordance with thepresent invention, with a pair of clothespins being formed at ends ofthe hanger;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the garment hanger of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of one of theclothespins shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of an alternativeembodiment of the clothespin; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the clothespin of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective and exploded perspective views of agarment hanger 1 in accordance with the present invention, respectively.The inventive garment hanger 1 includes a crosspiece 10 formed with ahook 30 extending upward therefrom. The hook 30 can be made of plastic,aluminum or any other material suitable for this purpose. The hook 30may be made separately and have a threaded lower end (not shown)threadedly connected to the crosspiece 10, or, alternatively, may bemade integrally with the crosspiece 10.

The crosspiece 10 is formed with a pair of clothespins 12 at its ends.The clothespins 12 can be made of the same material as the crosspiece 10is made of, and preferably made integrally with the crosspiece 10. It isto be noticed that a single clothespin 12 may be really required thoughtwo are illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 4A, each of the clothespins 12 includes a first jaw 16and a second jaw 18 arranged oppositely. Each of the jaws 16 and 18 hasa distal end 161 or 181 and a proximal end 167 or 187, with an innergriping surface 162 or 182 being formed at the distal end 161 or 181.The first jaw 16 further includes a wing 14 extending inward from aplace between the ends 161 and 167 with its extremity being engaged witha pair of opposite V-shaped notches (only one is shown) of the secondjaw 18. The combination of the wing 14 and the notches here serves as ahinge which pivotally connects the jaws 16 and 18 to each other. Thepivotal connection enables the jaws 16 and 18 to be pivotal relative toeach other between a first position in which the inner griping surfaces162 and 182 are brought apart, and a second position in which the innergriping surfaces 162 and 182 are brought closer.

Furthermore, the two jaws 16 and 18 are spring-loaded by a U-shapedspring 15 which, as shown, has a pair of legs 151 and 152 extendingoutward through openings (not numbered) of the jaws 16 and 18 andpressed against respective outsides of the same jaws 16 and 18, makingthe jaw 16 and 18 tend to pivot to the second position, as well aspreventing the two jaw 16 and 18 from separating.

Under the action of the spring 15, an article of clothing can be held bythe clothespin 12 between the griping surfaces 162 and 182. The articleof clothing can be released simply by pressing the proximal ends 167 and187 until the jaws 16 and 18 are pivoted to their first position.

In the present invention, the first jaw 16 further includes a pluralityof holes 163 defined in its griping surface 162, while the second jaw 18includes a plurality of blunt protuberances 183 projecting from itsinner griping surface 182 in positions corresponding to the holes 163.These protuberances 183 enter the holes 163 when the clothespin 12 is inthe second position, so as to provide an increased friction for holdingthe article of clothing between the jaws 16 and 18. The friction canalso be adjusted by changing the arrangement of the holes 163, which canbe arranged either randomly or regularly.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the holes 163 may be formed with respectiveinner steps 164, so that the protuberances 183 are pressed against themwhen the clothespin 12 is in the second position. In additionally, theblunt protuberances 183 may have a predetermined shape in cross-section,such as a round, as shown in FIG. 4B, or a square, as shown in FIG. 4A,while the holes 163 are shaped to mate with the protuberances 183. In ahighly preferred embodiment, as also shown in FIG. 4B, each of theprotuberances 183 has a substantially hemispherical terminal 184 and theholes 163 are shaped correspondingly to receive the protuberances 183 insuch shape.

It is preferable that the jaws 16 and 18 are each formed integrally byinjection of a material selected from a group consisting of polystyrene,polypropylene, and polyethylene.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the clothespins 12 can securelyhold the article of clothing without causing any damaging, due to theholes and the blunt protuberances.

Although embodiments together with structures and functions of thepresent invention have been described in detail, many modifications andvariations may be made from the teachings disclosed hereinabove. Forexample, the jaws can be pivotally connected to each other in a wayother than the combination of the wing and notches. Therefore, it shouldbe understood by those skilled in the art that any modification andvariation equivalent to the spirit of the present invention be regardedto fall into the scope covered by the appended claims.

1. A garment hanger comprising a crosspiece formed with at least oneclothespin and with a hook extending upward therefrom; and saidclothespin comprising a first jaw and a second jaw arranged oppositely,each of said jaws having a distal end and a proximal end and having aninner griping surface formed at said distal end, said jaws beingpivotally connected to each other in a place between said distal end andsaid proximal end and being pivotal relative to each other between afirst position in which said inner griping surfaces are brought apartand a second position in which said inner griping surfaces are broughtcloser, said jaws being spring-loaded so as to tend to pivot to saidsecond position; wherein said first jaw has a plurality of holes definedin said inner gripping surface thereof, while said second jaw has aplurality of blunt protuberances projecting from said inner grippingsurface thereof in positions corresponding to said holes, and saidprotuberances are configured to both enter and be surrounded by saidholes when said clothespin is in said second position, thereby providingan increased friction for securely holding an article of clothingbetween said jaws.
 2. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid holes are formed with respective inner steps, and wherein saidprotuberances are pressed against said inner steps when said clothespinis in said second position.
 3. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 1,wherein said blunt protuberances have a predetermined shape incross-section, and wherein said holes are shaped to mate with said bluntprotuberances.
 4. The garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidblunt protuberances each have a substantially hemispherical terminal,and wherein said holes are shaped correspondingly to receive saidprotuberances in such shape.
 5. A clothespin comprising a first jaw anda second jaw arranged oppositely, each of said jaws having a distal endand a proximal end and having an inner griping surface formed at saiddistal end, said jaws being pivotally connected to each other in a placebetween said distal end and said proximal end and being pivotal relativeto each other between a first position in which said inner gripingsurfaces are brought apart and a second position in which said innergriping surfaces are brought closer, said jaws being spring-loaded so asto tend to pivot to said second position; and wherein said first jaw hasa plurality of holes defined in said inner gripping surface thereof,while said second jaw has a plurality of blunt protuberances projectingfrom said inner gripping surface thereof in positions corresponding tosaid holes, and said protuberances are configured to both enter and besurrounded by said holes when said clothespin is in said secondposition, thereby providing an increased friction for securely holdingan article between said jaws.
 6. The clothespin as claimed in claim 5,wherein said holes are formed with respective inner steps, and whereinsaid protuberances are pressed against said inner steps when saidclothespin is in said second position.
 7. The clothespin as claimed inclaim 5, wherein said blunt protuberances have a predetermined shape incross-section, and wherein said holes are shaped to mate with said bluntprotuberances.
 8. The clothespin as claimed in claim 5, wherein saidblunt protuberances each have a substantially hemispherical terminal,and wherein said holes are shaped correspondingly to receive saidprotuberances in such shape.